Takeaways: What's important from 49ers' preseason loss to Vikings

The 49ers played their third and most important preseason game Sunday against the Vikings in Minnesota. It was the team’s most exciting exhibition game to date, with the first-team offense and defense both firing on all cylinders.

Kyle Shanahan put on a show, guiding quarterback Brian Hoyer and the offense to a standout first half. The defense looked equally dominant, with Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford routinely under pressure from an active 49ers defensive front.

Here are the meaningful takeaways from Saturday’s 32-31 preseason loss to the Vikings:

Third time’s a charm for starting offense

(Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

It may have taken two preseason contests to get it right, but the 49ers’ starting offense looked like it finally worked out the kinks Sunday. The first-unit looked nearly perfect in the first two drives, both resulting in impressive touchdowns.

Hoyer completed 12 of 17 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns — good for a quarterback rating of 143.3. Receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin both stood out. Garçon caught six passes for 64 yards, while Goodwin’s one reception was the highlight of the night — a 46-yard touchdown pass from Hoyer on the opening drive. Running back Carlos Hyde also had a big night through the air, catching three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.

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